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Conservatives support Save the Porcupine campaign

Posted on 12 May 2013

Coldharbour, Mottingham and New Eltham Conservatives are supporting the campaign to Save the Porcupine Pub in Mottingham, which was recently closed down by the site’s new owners. The current building dates back to the early 1920s, but there has been a Porcupine Inn on the site since at least 1650.

Cllr John Hills has attended a number of meetings on the closure of the pub and Conservatives in Bromley have been quick to undermine LiDL’s incorrect assertion that planning permission had been obtained to demolish the building (made at the Mottingham Residents’ Association meeting at the end of April).

On Tuesday Bromley & Chislehurst MP Bob Neil, Minister for Pubs Brandon Lewis, Councillor John Hills, representatives of CAMRA and other local residents are meeting for a rally at 10.30am to make clear the strength of local feelings on this issue.

It is understood that the current position is that permission to demolish has now been applied for (dated Monday 29th April), which allows 21 days for residents to make their objections known to Bromley Council (i.e. until 20th May).

Cllr John Hills, Cllr Mandy Brinkhurst and local campaigner Matt Hartley will be delivering letters to ward residents in Mottingham over the next few days to update them on the situation and encourage them to send in an objection.

Cllr John Hills, Chairman of Coldharbour, Mottingham & New Eltham Conservatives and President of the Greenwich Conservative Federation, said: “We need to make sure that LiDL’s knows how residents feel about this. The Porcupine is a prized village asset, and this is clearly an inappropriate site for their planned development. I hope as many residents as possible can join us on Tuesday – and if not, send in their objections to Bromley council by 20th May.”

Residents can make their objections to the development known to Bromley Council’s Planning Department (before 20th May) by emailing planning@bromley.gov.uk or writing to The Chief Planner, Civic Centre Stockwell Close, Bromley BR1 3UH.